Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Budget Dialogues 2024: What We Heard; and, Fall 2024 Economic and Fiscal Update. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad there's no time on the clock because I can just keep going as long as I'd like, I guess. Mr. Speaker, I have long said that there's a large challenge in the North with respect to the way that the carbon tax parameters are placed upon us by the federal government. The majority of the actual tax revenue does still continue to go back to residents, firstly in the forms of COLO payment, but then secondly in the forms of a number of other subsidies. I spoke to some of them yesterday. There's a territorial power support program. There are direct contributions...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although I've reviewed the report, I'm not in the immediate position here today to get into details. There could be a number of different things that could occur in the course of a year. I mean, anything from low water, changes in fuel usage, the wildfires, these can all impact and influence in terms of where fuel usage is coming in, the types of fuel usage that's being -- that's coming in and being charged. High years of fuel usage, such as in a low water year, could well have resulted in that amount. I'd like to -- I'd prefer to be able to break...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an e-scooter is not a bicycle and the concern there being that it is much more akin to some other sort of power-assisted type of device and wanting to ensure that we are appropriately defining and in alignment with what's happening in the rest of Canada, what qualifies as a bicycle, what qualifies as an e-mobile device, and what the appropriate types of regulations would be. So there is, as I mentioned before, Mr. Speaker, the Canada Council for Motor Transportation Administrators, is a national body that has a working group on exactly how to figure...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can perhaps start by saying that I'll work with my colleague, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, on this area. It's one that I know is dear to his heart, to ensure that all residents have appropriate access to emergency services, and I'm more than happy to do so. I think he, and also my other colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, similarly share that we want to ensure folks have access to such services. So happy to begin to have that conversation or perhaps join their conversation so that we are all working towards that common goal...

Mr. Speaker, thank you. I've certainly been present in the House when we've had some discussions of late around challenges in terms of the interplay between independence and accountability as entities and creatures of the GNWT, and, Mr. Speaker, I can say that I've actually recently directed the Department of Infrastructure, who are leading this work, to take that into account expressly indicating that while we want to ensure there's independence obviously with non-GNWT members on this board, I've asked that there be a very express and clear connection back to likely the Minister because that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the expression of interest that should be going out for the public will be ready in 2025, early 2025. That then goes out to seek the expressions of interest. We're hopefully going to be looking to get four to eight new members on. That will help to then transition off several of the existing board members who obviously do have other responsibilities. And we'd be keeping, of course -- I shouldn't say of course, we are looking to keep at least two GNWT members on the board; we are the sole shareholder. But that transition...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha that Bill 16, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2025-2026, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a resident of Yellowknife South, also a fellow hockey parent, fellow soccer parent Nicole Sok here today. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House that Bill 16, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2025-2026, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.